Also see: 

• My Best Advice: Go Go Go

Like most peeps, I am ready to put 2016 in the can. It was a good year. I visited many places for the first time, including:

• Barcelona
• Martinique
• Osaka and Tokyo
• The Bahamas

And I got to return to a few places, like:

• Hawaii
• Washington, DC
• Albuquerque

I also left New York – finally! – bought a house and moved to Dallas.

Moving into 2017, there’s a simple principle I’ll apply when it comes to booking travel: BOOK THE TRIP.

BOOK THE TRIP

I’ve written before to “Go Go Go.” And BOOK THE TRIP (yes, has to be all caps like I’m screaming at you) is similar. But there’s a shift of intention and mindset.

That means not second-guessing yourself. Not worrying about what if or why. Listening to your instincts and doing something when it feels right.

Too often, I see a cheap fare, or discover a cool trick to book award flights for nearly nothing. And each time, there’s a little voice that says, “Should you really do that?”

Next year, that little voice is going to sing a different tune:

I’m going all Alaska-and-Southwest-y and DAL is 10 minutes up the road from me. I will think nothing of taking quick weekend trips. I’ll book them quickly and liberally, without worrying what might happen.

We each have this life. This one wild and precious life. And once it’s gone, that’s it. I doubt I will regret taking a trip. More likely, I’ll wish I’d taken more and worked less.

Work and people and situations will to have to wait. It sounds selfish – it is – but I’m the only one responsible for making myself happy. Travel makes me happy. And booking trips to new places makes me incredibly happy. More of that, please.

There’s no doubt plans will change. And when it happens, I’ll deal with it, like I always have.

I’m tired on being on other people’s schedules. Of not going when and where I want. And while it won’t be possible to book every trip because of time, or money, or simple logistics, my goal in 2017 is to travel more than ever before.

Bottom line

BOOK THE TRIP is my new mantra. A couple of friends recently asked me a question about a trip beginning with “Should I…?” I interjected with a swift and firm, “Yes. BOOK THE TRIP.”

I’m looking forward to seeing more of the US, more of Europe, and possibly returning to South America (ah, I want to visit Patagonia!) in 2017.

I’m in a good spot. I feel happy. And I’m giving myself permission to follow my bliss. And by far, travel is my biggest passion.

When I don’t know what I want, I’m going to say, “I want to know what I want!,” instead of getting down about it or feeling stuck.

A lot of things are happening in this world right now. But I’m directly responsible for only one person’s happiness: my own.

And on that note, I’d tell you, BOOK THE TRIP.

Where do you want to go in 2017? 

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